Introduction
Have you ever checked the weather before you get ready for school? While it only takes you a few seconds to check the weather, there are teams of scientists who work hard to detect weather patterns and give you accurate predictions. Now, you get to be meteorologists and see what goes into examining these weather patterns for severe storm systems.
This WebQuest is aligned with standard:
S4E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to predict weather events and infer weather patterns using weather charts/maps and collected weather data.
a. Construct an explanation of how weather instruments (thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, wind vane, and anemometer) are used in gathering weather data and making forecasts.
b. Interpret data from weather maps, including fronts (warm, cold, and stationary), temperature,pressure, and precipitation to make an informed prediction about tomorrow’s weather.
c. Ask questions and use observations of cloud types (cirrus, stratus, and cumulus) and data of weather conditions to predict weather events.
d. Construct an explanation based on research to communicate the difference between weather and climate.
Task
You and your classmates will form into teams of meteorologists. Each group will research a particular storm system. Then, you will organize a presentation to share your findings with your fellow meteorologists. You may share your findings in a newscast, play, Google Slides/Prezi, or through a display.
The different storm systems include:
1. Tornado
2. Hurricane
3. Winter weather/Blizzard
4. Severe thunderstorms
When you and your group create a presentation, you will:
1. Explain the difference between climate and weather.
2. Compare the different cloud types (cirrus, stratus, cumulus) and describe the clouds associated with your storm system.
3. Describe the characteristics of your storm, how it forms, and how people should prepare.
4. Describe the weather instruments (thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, wind vane, anemometer) and explain how they are used in gathering weather data and making forecasts.
5. Make informed predictions and interpret data from weather maps, which include fronts (warm, cold, and stationary), temperature, pressure, and precipitation.
Under each storm category, there will be a series of links, websites, and videos to help with your research. Make sure you're keeping a record for all of your data!
Process
Helpful information for all groups:
Links for all groups:
Weather Instruments:
https://extension.illinois.edu/treehouse/airpressure.cfm?Slide=1
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=82
Clouds:
https://extension.illinois.edu/treehouse/clouds.cfm?Slide=4
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=64
Storms:
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
1. Tornado
https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tornado3.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tornado5.htm
2. Hurricane
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/hurricane1.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/hurricane3.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/hurricane5.htm
3. Winter weather/Blizzard
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/blizzard3.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/blizzard2.html
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-winter-storms.htm
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/gid/WCM/awareness/winterdangers.pdf
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/blizzard5.htm
4. Severe thunderstorms
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tstorm4.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tstorm5.htm
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tstorm7.htm
Evaluation
Rubric: Meteorologist for a Day
|
|
1 – Needs Improvement |
2 – Fair/ In Progress |
3 - Meets |
4 - Exceeds |
Points |
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Content Knowledge |
No attempt or no evidence of understanding topic research. |
Student shows understanding in some areas but didn’t meet all the standards. |
Student shows understanding in the standards and clearly presents information. |
Clearly shows understanding beyond that required to meet standards and provides supporting evidence. |
|
|
Organization |
Audience is unable to follow along and the information is disorganized. |
Audience has a difficult time following along because information is presented out of order. |
The audience was able to follow along and the information was logically presented. |
The audience followed along with ease and the student provided a logical and interesting sequencing of events. |
|
|
Delivery |
No attempt to discuss assigned topic or student doesn’t take presentation seriously. The student mispronounced most of the terms. |
The student struggled with eye-contact and speaking clearly or has to read off notes the entire time. The student struggled with pronouncing many of the terms. |
Clear, logical and relevant on topic explanations, glancing down at notes occasionally. The student pronounced most of the words correctly. |
The student didn’t have to glance down at notes and spoke clearly and logically. The student pronounced all the terms correctly. |
|
Conclusion
For the conclusion, we're going to discuss the new content that we learned and share what we found interesting. At this time, feel comfortable sharing what you liked about the project and some things that you might want to change for next time.
Credits
Crash Course Kids (2015, September 25). Severe weather: crash course kids #28.2. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZExLO0MWA&t=2s
Crash Course Kids (2015, November 12). Weather channels: Crash course kids #34.2. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD-2dvaG4UY&t=208s
Crash Course Kids (2015, September 23). Weather vs. climate: Crash course kids #28.1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbAWny7FV3w
Palisades Episcopal School (2015, January 15). 4th Grade Meteorology Presentations . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trL3cx1OBpM&index=4&list=PLKn6cNW1iVmL7…
Peekaboo Kidz (2016, August 12). Hurricane, The Dr. Binocs Show, Educational Videos For Kids. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2__Bk4dVS0
Ted-Ed (2014, August 19). How do tornadoes form? - James Spann. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWh9jV_1ac&index=3&list=PLKn6cNW1iVmL7…